Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-17
A SHARP RASCAL.
Joseph DObler's Plan of Amassing a
Fortune, and How it Fell
Through.

Joseph E. Dobler, of Bellaire, was
LODGED in jail here Monday, afternoon
the charge against him being for fraud.
ulently obtaining money, amounting in
the aggregate to SS,352 10, from Ar
buckle & Co., a wholesale coffee trm,
with headquarters in New York City.
Some time prior to August, 1880, the
Cincinnati branch house ofArbuckie&Co.
was destroyed by fre,and the compsny's
book lost. Dobler in some Way became
aware of this fact, and proceeded to
make use cf his knowledge. According
TO the affidavit of Jas. Turner, the Ohio
agent of the company, the fraudulent
transactions cover period of only
about eighteen montbs-from Sept, 1885.
to March. 1887. His plan of opera
tIons was as follows: He would write to
the company from some neigbboring
town-Quaker City. Salinayille, Harri-
vile. or any place he might fix upon.
signing fictitious name as Justice of
the Peace, stating that judgment had
been rendered in their favor, and asking
them to forward check for the amount
of the costs in the case. The names
used of defendant, attorney, and JUS
tlce of the peace, were all fictitious. Do
bier would arrange to have the letters
forwarded from the town to which they
were sent to his box, No. 4S, in Bellaire.
In this manner he received 127 checks,
all of which be had cashed at the Bank
of Wheeling, in Wheeling, W. Va.
Recently the suspicion of the head of
the Arbuckle firm was aroused, and de-
tective Gustav Frank. PiDkertOD man.
was employed to look the matter up He
bad little difficulty in tracing the matter
TO Dobler, and on Friday afternoon that
worthy was arrested. A search of his
house brought to light complete record
of all his fraudulent transactions with
the firm. A Pultney township docket
during the time when John ]. Powell
Was Justice of the peace, which mystic
riously disappeared some years ago, was
also found, though it does not seem that
he ever succeeded In turning it to profit
able account.
Had Dobler confined himself to checks
for sums under SS5, it would have been
under the laws of Ohio, to
have sent him to the PeniteRtiary-butl
this he did not do-the average amount
of the checks cashed by him being
500 SO. and as his guilt is undeniable, |
and easily established, he will go to the |
unless be succeeds in eff
fecting compromise with Arbuckle |
& Co.
About two years ago Dobler made a
trip to Germany, and on his return |
stated that he had been handsomely re-
nembered in the will of relative. He
bought a lot in the Third ward, Bell |
,ire. on which he erected q substantial
brick residence which he furnished In
elegant style, with piano, upholstered
furniture and rich carpets, all being In
,he name of his wife, Caroline Dobler, !
Rho is made defendant in civil pro
seeding with view to the recovery of
| portion of the stolen money.
Joseph E. Dobler is man about 40
1ears of age, and possesses consi ierable
,atural ability, being good penman
Ind an expert accountant, but has al
ways been looked upon as a sbitty.
ricky character, whom it would not do
o trust too far. He was at one time
City Clerk of Bellaire, and until recent
y has picked up rather preearious
living by odd jobs around the Offices of
he various Justices of the Peace, and by
occasional newspaper work, but the gen.
'ral estimate of his character prevented
lin from obtaining the political or busi-
less preferment which he otherwise
night have had. He has lived in Bell
ire for number of years, having there
married Caroline Lenhart. The couple
AVE five children. This is not the first
ime Joe has been in trouble, and on his
eeent trip home from Germany he be-
rayed a young girl, a fellow passenger,
representing himself to be widower.
md promising to marry her. The mat
er was compromised in some way, and
)obler escaped punishment.
At the preliminary hearing before
Squire Roeder. of Bellaire, Monday. J.
3 Smith appeared for the defendant,and
!. G. Tallman for the plaintiff. Dobler
waived examination. and squire Roeder
ixed the bail at $4,000, in default of
which Dobler was brought here and
,laced in the county Jail. as above stated.
Some twenty years ago Dobler's father.
Who is now iD business in Wheeling, had
gunsmith shop here in the Jos. King
on Main street. and his BROTH
IT Roman ran saloon under the Ma
ional Hotel. Joseph did not live with
lis parents at the time, but was fre-
luently here on visit. aud is remem-
,ered by many of our citizens as du'
iish young gentleman, with great
ieal TO say, and very positive way of
aging it. He is said to be very much
,roken down by his arrest, which was
Ipparent entirely unexpected. he
to have convinced himself
hat he could carry on his game just so
ong as it suited him, without fear of
detection. y